How to Clean Pearl Jewelry: A Complete Care Guide

Pearls are unlike any other gemstone in jewelry — they’re organic, formed by living creatures, and have a soft, layered structure that requires care that’s completely different from how you’d treat a diamond or a sapphire. The wrong cleaning method doesn’t just leave pearls dirty — it permanently damages the nacre (the lustrous outer coating) that gives pearls their value and beauty. Here’s exactly how to care for them correctly.

Why pearls need special care

Pearl nacre — the coating of calcium carbonate crystals that creates the luster — is relatively soft at Mohs 2.5-3. Almost everything is harder than pearls: metal clasps, other gemstones, abrasive cloths, even some household dust particles. This means pearls scratch easily and must be stored and cleaned with more care than any other jewelry material.

Pearls are also affected by acids, which dissolve nacre over time. This includes the acids in perfume, hairspray, sweat, and even the natural acids in skin. The famous rule “pearls go on last and come off first” exists for this reason — putting pearls on after applying beauty products minimizes acid exposure significantly.

How to clean pearl jewelry

What you need: a soft, damp cloth (microfiber works best), optionally a very mild soap.

For routine cleaning after each wear: wipe each pearl gently with a soft damp cloth. This removes skin oils, sweat, and any cosmetic residue before it has time to dull the nacre. This simple habit done consistently is the single most effective thing you can do for pearl care.

For a deeper clean (monthly or when pearls look dull): mix one drop of mild baby shampoo or gentle soap in a small bowl of lukewarm water. Dampen a soft cloth in the solution — do not submerge the pearls. Wipe each pearl individually along the strand, then wipe again with a clean damp cloth to remove soap residue. Lay flat on a clean dry towel and allow to dry completely before storing — this is important because wet silk thread can stretch and weaken.

Never do the following:

• Submerge pearl necklaces in water — soaking weakens the silk thread and can damage the knots between pearls
• Use ultrasonic cleaners — vibration damages nacre
• Use steam cleaners
• Use any chemical cleaners, jewelry dips, or silver polishes
• Rub pearls with abrasive materials including paper towels
• Use toothpaste or baking soda — both are too abrasive for nacre

How to store pearl jewelry

Pearls should always be stored separately from other jewelry — metal clasps and harder gemstones will scratch the surface even with light contact.

Store pearl necklaces flat in a soft pouch or lined box rather than hanging. Hanging a pearl necklace puts continuous stress on the silk thread and can cause it to stretch and eventually break.

Keep pearls away from other jewelry, especially diamonds and sapphires, which will scratch nacre on contact.

Do not store pearls in airtight plastic bags for extended periods — pearls are organic and need a small amount of air circulation to maintain their moisture balance. A soft fabric pouch is better than a sealed plastic container for long-term storage.

Keep out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources — both dry out nacre over time and cause surface cracking in severe cases.

When to restring your pearl necklace

Pearl necklaces strung on silk thread (the traditional and correct material) should be restrung every 2-5 years depending on how often they’re worn. Signs that restringing is needed: visible dirt on the thread between pearls, thread that’s become loose or stretched (pearls slide easily rather than sitting in place), or any fraying at the clasp. A single broken thread can result in losing all the pearls on the strand, so don’t wait until the thread breaks.

Most jewelers offer restringing services and will knot between each pearl (which is correct practice — knots prevent all pearls from scattering if the thread breaks and protect pearls from rubbing each other).

The daily routine that keeps pearls beautiful

Put pearls on after applying all makeup, perfume, and hairspray. Wipe with a soft damp cloth after each wear. Store flat in a soft pouch separately from other jewelry. Have them restrung every few years. With these four habits, pearls last for generations — they’re one of the few jewelry materials that genuinely improve in appearance with careful, consistent wear.